The 2021 Sustainability Agenda Webinar - A Round-Up
Our inaugural event kicked off 2021 by outlining common sustainability goals that are in place. Our panel included some key figures from the sustainability background of the NHS trusts from England and Scotland. Together we took an in-depth look at their shared vision for the future, the event included discussion on EVs, Infrastructure, PPE & the circular economy.
We were excited to introduce our esteemed panel:
Francesca Silcocks, Sustainability Manager at the Sandwell and West Birmingham Hospitals NHS Trust
Kathryn Dapre, Head of Energy and Sustainability at the NHS National services, Scotland
Grace Ryder, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust
Alexis Percival, Environmental and sustainability manager, Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust
NHS Hybrid & Electric Vehicles
One of the most talked about issues in 2020 and 2021 has been the rise of electric vehicles, and hybrid propulsion technology. It’s an aim that our panellists have shared for some time now, converting their fleet of NHS vehicles to carbon neutral alternatives. Although these do come with unique limitations, they are the more sustainable options, and the move away from petrol or diesel ambulances and logistic vehicles is vitally important for trusts to meet their sustainability goals.
A hard choice remains for the facilities managers in the NHS regarding, whether or not to provide free EV charging points for their staff in hospital grounds. Kathryn Dapre, Head of Energy and Sustainability at the NHS National Services Scotland made the point that they don’t currently offer free petrol stations for their staff. To continue in the same vein would mean not providing an incentive for their staff to make the switch in their personal lives. There was also a huge discussion point mentioned in the concern around the pressure the EV charging points would have on the national grid and existing infrastructure at NHS sites.
PPE & Re-usability
Face masks have been in use at NHS sites for years now, trusts nationwide recognise the importance of their usage in fighting infection and avoiding contamination. Only last year, in 2020, did their use become mandatory in public spaces nationwide. This inevitably made their disposal a hot button issue, while NHS trusts can comfortably dispose of the masks without cause for concern, use of the masks rising to tens of millions per day has highlighted how unsustainable they are, and the problems in recycling them.
Alexis Percival, Environmental and Sustainability Manager of Yorkshire Ambulance Service at NHS Trust tackles this issue by stating how they aim to introduce alternative PPE that can be recycled and/or reused at the very least. She has worked with five different manufacturers in the industry that can provide face masks that can be safely washed and reused 50 times. This small change can reduce the number of single use face masks by a significant proportion.
Achieving Net Zero
Past sustainability aims, for the NHS trusts, have traditionally been centred around the estates, and the infrastructure. This has meant that a limited number of individuals have been briefed and prepped to meet the trusts’ sustainability aims. Grace Ryder, Energy and Sustainability Manager for the Southern Health NHS Trust, made it clear that her objective is to introduce a holistic action place with clear benchmarks to achieve net zero by 2050.
To improve the chances of her trust becoming net zero by the specified time, she made it clear that they were engaging with the clinical side of the trust. This can help them understand how they can improve their processes in relation to facets such as; respirators and inhalers, theatre and operations, and consultations.
Further Thoughts
We didn’t have enough time to answer all the questions being asked on the day so here’s a couple of thoughts from Katheryn to our extra queries:
Q - Has anyone progressed a detailed study of building retrofit/refurbishment scale and costs to get to net zero for each site ?
- Peter Smyth, Assistant National Director Estates
A - Within NHS Scotland, we are currently working on a pilot project to develop ‘net-zero routemaps’ for 3 of our Boards. This will include a high-level overview of their estate to determine potential retrofit solutions and an indicative cost. We’ve done more detailed studies at a couple of sites, and I’m afraid there isn’t a straightforward answer. It depends on the age of the site, the existing heating infrastructure (e.g. steam, LTHW), etc. and it will depend on whether decarbonisation of the national gas grid is confirmed, i.e. cheaper to replace burner technology only rather than a full retrofit of burner and heat distribution networks. - Kathryn Dapre
A - Different guidance documents are being put together by NHS England at present to develop Net Zero buildings for different healthcare settings. The Green Building Council are also working with NHS E on this as well. There are many different healthcare challenges that go with different healthcare situations that need to be taken into consideration so there are a lot of issues we need to overcome. - Alexis Percival
Q - I’ve liaised with Alexis on this before but I would be interested in finding out whether anyone in this webinar has worked on or is working on a Sustainability Impact Assessment for projects/initiating any change within the organisation?
As Grace mentioned, it’s a misconception that because things like car parking and waste, which are very visible, sit within Estates that the carbon targets imposed on the Trust are solely an Estates & Facilities target. Any positive changes being made within the department may be being cancelled out by clinical activities.
Just interested in how people are monitoring the carbon impact of these changes/activities and what challenges they have or have they managed to get this onto Trust Board agenda
- Jessica Brownsword Sustainability Manager
A - Yes, we have, but not at a national scale. We’ve done localised studies for specific projects, and not against a fixed method. Typically, the requirement to do pre and post clinical impact analysis is part of our business case approval procedure, but the methods are up to individual Boards and project teams. - Kathryn Dapre
A - I have developed an SIA for board level assessment. Happy to share if you want! - Alexis Percival
Thank you to our panellists for giving us their insight into the diverse and meaningful actions taken by their respective trusts and thank you for those taking time out to attend the webinar. If you would like to be part of one of our next events, then please get in touch with us here.